I am Me, No One Else

Of course Grace is freaked out a little when introduced to K (name chosen because the Eridian scientist likes the sound). A little violated learning about what happened with his DNA, a VERY ecstatic at K's creation (SCIENCE!!!).

K has been programmed to meet Grace's need for touch but Grace doesn't, like, hug him right away. He knows why K is there, but with the face of a human, he treats K more like a person than robot. It is a build up.

K is very confused by the slowness but he doesn't push. In the meantime, he watches and learns. Not just what Grace likes and doesn't like but... everything. What it means to be human. He starts developing his own interests.

K develops his own sentience. His own sense of purpose beyond being something that comforts Grace.

Grace finds it all fascinating and continues to encourage K's growth.

This can be seen as platonic or you can have them fall in love (I do!) But they get super close with each other. Grace seeing K as more than just a machine and K seeing himself as a human. (discussions of what is a soul anyone? eh? eh?)

K wants to explore outside the dome and be useful like Grace does with teaching the pebbles, and so he goes on space missions with other eridians to spread the Taumoeba. He learns to fight and stuff so he can defend the Eridians from anything that might physically harm them. He is gone for months at a time but always comes home. His fav part of returning his him and Grace cuddling.

And now here some bittersweet ANGST.

Grace dies of old age. K is devastated with all of Erid. He knows he will continue to live on when Grace dies but it is too much when Grace passes away.

He keeps living though because he promised Grace he would. But then he notices things. Robotic joints get worn down, his skin is sagging in places, etc.

The Eridian scientist who made him makes a return and says "Oh yeah! I made it to where you will die! I tried to make it like a human would age but I guess I messed up."

And it kind of gives K and new lease on life. Not because he will die but because he will get to join Grace again when he does. So he decides to live a full life, for Grace, so when they meet again in the stars, he can share with Grace all the things he experienced.